​"We’re not out there to make people mad. We're not out there to just order people around. We're not trying to disrupt people's lives for no reason." That's how Quarryville Fire Police Officer Ronald Swayne describes his volunteer duties directing traffic around emergency scenes.

"We provide scene safety for the public and our own people," fire police volunteer John Strause said. "We will try to keep the road open if we can, but our main concern is safety." "We're trying to help the community, but some people don't see it that way," Swayne said. "Once in a while, we'll even get threatened." The job can be dangerous. Two years ago, Fire Police Lieutenant Ron Weaver was knocked down by a vehicle while directing traffic around an accident scene. "The lady who hit me stopped, rolled down her window, asked if I was all right, and then drove off," he recalled. "She didn't even wait for me to answer." Drivers talking on cell phones are especially dangerous, Strause said. "They're not paying attention and that's hazardous at an emergency scene.” In addition to working at fires and vehicle accidents, the fire police are called out to provide traffic control for fallen trees, downed wires, and disabled vehicles. "We now spend up to two hours with downed power lines. After that, we notify the townships and close the road. That came about after we spent nine hours at a downed power line until PPL could get there," Swayne said. Most of their work is done well away from the scene. If they can, they set up at the intersections closest to the event so they can detour traffic if necessary. "That can be a problem at times," Swayne said. "There are some streets and some roads that aren't suited to tractor trailers and we have to be aware of that." Many of the fire police officers are longtime fire company members. Some got their start fighting fires and handling auto accidents while others began with the fire police. "Some of us have been at this for a long time," Strause said. Over the years, their equipment has improved. They now have a van equipped with traffic control gear, including portable barriers, lighting, road closed signs, and flares. "And each of us has a radio so we can stay in touch with each other or with other fire police units," Swayne said. With 14 volunteers, the Quarryville unit is one of the most active in the region. Volunteers must complete hazardous materials training and graduate from the basic fire police course before they can serve. Each course lasts 16 hours. "We're glad to have so many people who are willing to do this," Fire Police Captain Carl Diem said. "In June, we had 27 calls. In July, the fire company had about 50 calls," Swayne said. "If we get a fire call or an accident call, we just go. We also help out at cardiac arrests and whatever calls come in. It's almost anything any more," he said.

​ Elementary school art is more than finger painting and using white glue to assemble paper cutouts. This past school year, it's gone high tech. Carrie Woody's students at Quarryville and Providence elementary schools have been using a pair of iPads to help them incorporate technology in their art projects.

​ "We have them using green screens so they can put backgrounds in with their clay sculptures and drawings," she said. Students in first and second grade use them to take selfies and learn to draw from those photos. "This has broadened their horizons," Woody said. "With kids today, we have to go with more technology rather than just using the basic art skills of drawing and painting. That doesn't mean we don't use those skills. The iPads just allow us to add on to them. They also draw on them." She used a grant from the Solanco Education Foundation to buy the two iPads. Woody got the grant last October and had the technology in place by the beginning of 2018. "I'm very grateful and happy to get them through the grant," Woody said. "They have improved and enhanced art education in the elementary schools. They are easy to transport and that's important as I travel between the two elementary schools," she said. The art teacher uses the new iPads in combination with iPads already in the elementary schools. The new iPads, however, are used solely for art and are always available. Students in the third, fourth, and fifth grades have also used the iPads to create digital art portfolios. Eventually, younger students will also be creating portfolios "but we just wanted to start with the older kids," the art teacher said. In the coming school year, Woody plans to use the iPads to create step animation projects. "We're going to see how Pixar does that. We will show them what they see on TV doesn't magically appear. The technology does it," she said. "The iPads have added to their excitement level." Woody's grant was among 11 awarded by the foundation early last fall. The foundation raises money for the grants as well as scholarships for graduating seniors. Next month, the foundation will host one of its primary fundraisers, a golf tournament at Tanglewood Manor Golf Club. The tournament will begin at noon on August 17 and will have a scramble start at 1 p.m. A dinner at Emory's at Tanglewood will follow the tournament. Registration is $90 per golfer before August 9 and $360 per team. After August 9, registration is $100 per golfer and $400 for a team. Checks and registration information should be sent to the Solanco Education Foundation, 121 S. Hess St., Quarryville PA 17566.

Firefighters and emergency medical personnel were called to a barn collapse in the 800 block of Lancaster Pike (Rt. 272), Providence Township, shortly before 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25. ​ Read more...

As they were responding, emergency personnel were told a man might be trapped in the wreckage. A neighbor reported the collapse and could not find the property owner, county radio dispatchers told responders. A crew from a LEMSA medic unit arrived first and could find no sign that anyone was trapped in the wreckage. Firefighters used a thermal imaging camera to survey the building and could find no signs of a human inside. Family members later located the owner in a nearby village and he returned to the barn. The Lancaster County collapse team was dispatched as a precaution; it was recalled when responders determined no one was in the structure. The barn, which sits more than 100 feet east of the roadway, did not contain any livestock. Responders did determine two injured turkey buzzards were in the building. Rawlinsville and Quarryville firefighters responded. They could not determine when the barn collapsed or what caused the building to fall.

Expanding and renovating Clermont Elementary School and Swift Middle School will cost less than Solanco School District officials estimated. The work in the two schools will cost $16.5 million, well under the estimate of $17.3 million the district's architect anticipated. "We were very pleased that we had the number of offers we did. It was a nice selection," said Solanco School District business manager Sandy Tucker.

The district awarded four contracts. One was for general construction, the second for heating and air conditioning, the third for plumbing, and the fourth for electrical. Two of the contractors are new to Solanco. But both the general contractor, eciConstruction of Dillsburg, and the electrical contractor, Pagoda Electrical of Reading, have good records, the business manager said. The general contractor, eciConstruction's bid was $11,179,000 and Pagoda's was $2,620,586. The other two contractors, Frey Lutz for heating and air conditioning and Jay R. Reynolds Inc. for plumbing, have done work for Solanco. Frey Lutz bid $2,328,000 and Reynolds bid $444,400. The contracts will award bonuses to firms that complete their work early and assess penalties for work that is finished after the deadline. All four contractors have strong recommendations, Tucker said. The project will be managed by Abacus Construction Management, the same firm that is overseeing the renovation and expansion of Smith Middle School. The bids were opened June 28 and awarded at the school board's open meeting on July 2. Preparations for the project began two years ago when the district installed a new heating and air conditioning plant at Swift. Then, in the summer of 2017, the district rearranged the traffic pattern around the schools. That will allow the bus loading and unloading areas to be moved to the back of the buildings rather than in the front. The work at the two schools, which are connected, will begin in August. "What could hold it up is the work underway now to rebuild and pave the parking area," Tucker said. The projects will be completed in late 2019 or early 2020. The project will include new offices for both schools, a new gymnasium for Clermont, and an auditorium for Swift. The first work will be renovating and moving the office area at Clermont, followed by similar work at Swift. Then the contractor will begin building the gym and classroom additions at Clermont. The final phase of the project will see additional classrooms and a new auditorium built at Swift. Because the contractor will be staging equipment in front of the schools, access to the buildings will be limited. "We will have cattle chutes behind the building going to the entrances and visitors and parents will be escorted into the schools," Tucker said.

Each year, the challenge is different. In 2016, a pastor agreed to either run or walk from Zion United Church of Christ, 900 Winter Hill Rd., to Mt. Eden Evangelical Lutheran Church on May Post Office Rd. Last year, one pastor had to sing the other pastor's favorite hymn during a hymn sing in September.

This year, one pastor will have to wear an ugly t-shirt chosen by the other. "We've asked congregation members to bring in ugly shirts," said the Rev. Robert Bistline, pastor of Zion UCC. "If we get five shirts, we'll ask the congregation to vote on which one is the ugliest and will be presented." There are some rules, however. "The shirt must be laundered, be extra large or larger, and have a decent message. We can't use any shirt that's offensive," said Mt. Eden's pastor, the Rev. Don Costlow. The pastor of the church whose congregation raises the lower amount will then have to wear the shirt chosen by the other pastor during a hymn sing in September. That doesn't mean that pastor or his congregation is the loser. "We prefer to think of it as the pastor who comes in second," the Rev. Costlow said. The challenge is part of an annual food collection competition the two congregations hold every summer. This year's began on Sunday, July 1, and runs through noon on August 31. Each congregation collects nonperishable food items and cash. Each food item is worth one point; each $1 is worth two points. The church that makes the most points wins and gets to keep the trophy, a cross made of 15 empty Spam Lite cans. The pastor whose congregation comes in second has to perform the challenge. While the friendly competition is between the two congregations, members of the public can also participate. Donors may drop off cash or food items at Zion U.C.C., 900 Winter Hill Rd., from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday. Donations may be brought to Mt. Eden, 1241 May Post Office Rd., from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays. Donations will also be accepted on Sunday mornings. "It was a close competition last year but Mt. Eden won," said the Rev. Bistline. All the food and cash donations will be given to the Solanco Food Bank. "We give it to the food bank in the summer. That's the time of year they really need it," the Rev. Bistline said. "The focus isn't on the challenge and we don't call it a food fight," the Rev. Costlow said. "The real focus is on feeding the people."

Three members of the Lancaster County Cruisers brought their cars to a photo shoot at Quarryville's Memorial Park on Wednesday morning, June 20. While he had the youngest car there, Wayne Murray has the longest history with his ride. "My father bought it new in 1963," he said of the Chevelle. "I was taught to drive in this car and passed my test in it. My dad gave it to me in 1987."

Jack Parke had the oldest vehicle, a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air. "I've had it about 18 years," he said. "I did the restoration myself. It's pretty much all original." Jack Benedict showed up in his 1957 Ford, one of the first cars made with a retractable hardtop rather than a soft convertible top. "They made a little over 40,000 of them between 1957 and 1959," he said. "I've had it since 1992." He and a friend spent three and a half years restoring his Ford, Benedict said. "The only thing I didn't do was the upholstery. I brought in an expert for that," he said. While most members own and show collectible cars, the cruise is not limited to any specific age of vehicle. "We have a couple of members who don't have antique cars and the show is open to anyone who wants to exhibit his or her vehicle," Parke said. The Lancaster County Cruiser members support the Solanco Food Bank. "That's where a good portion of our proceeds go," Parke said. The club is also accepting donations of non-perishable food items the day of the show. The show will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 7, at Willow Street Fireman's Field, 2901 Willow Street Pike, Willow Street. Advance registration is $12 per vehicle and will be accepted through June 29. To register in advance, send a $12 check per vehicle to Edward Caskey, 631 S. Locust St., Elizabethtown PA 17022. Checks should be made payable to Lancaster County Cruisers. Registration will be $15 the day of the show. "It will be rain or shine," Parke said. The first 150 entries will receive dash plaques. The event will include three prizes of $300, $200, and $100. A DJ will play music from the 1950s and 1960s. Food will be available for purchase. "And there will be a lot of good door prizes," Carol Farmer said.

In May, Encounter Church members got a glimpse of Solid Rock's programs and the ministry's goals. That led member Mary Mendenhall to propose a fundraiser she had been considering. "I had it in my heart to do a 5K, but I didn't know what for," she said last week. The program at Encounter Church led the 2012 Solanco High School graduate to propose the run as a fundraiser for Solid Rock.

"I've never done a fundraiser before, but I want to do this one," she said. The idea caught on with Solid Rock volunteers. It will be the children's ministry's first 5K fundraiser. "We had thought about a 5K," Solid Rock director Raeanne Nixon said. "We talked about it with our fundraising lady about a year ago. This spring, we said we were going to do one, and then Mary texted me about it." "I can't cook and I don't have lots of money, but I do know how to run," Mendenhall said. She didn't start running until after she graduated from high school. "Since then, I've done several 5Ks and a half marathon," Mendenhall said. Organizers hope to attract between 100 and 150 runners and raise $5,000. The event is scheduled for Saturday, August 18. The run will start at the Fairview Rd. traihead in Providence Township and go east over the new bridge. Runners and walkers will turn around after two and a half kilometers and return to the starting point. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. The run itself will start at 8:30. There will be a half-mile fun run for kids, starting at 9:30 a.m. Both runs will be held rain or shine. Advance registration is $30 per person. Teams of five or more people can register for $25 per person. The rates will go up to $35 per person after July 31. People registering after that date will not be guaranteed a t-shirt. Registration packets can be picked up at the trailhead the day of the run or at Solid Rock, 34 E. State St., Quarryville, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, August 17. Participants can park at the trailhead or at New Providence Baptist Church on Beaver Valley Pike (Rt. 222). "We will have shuttle service between the church and the starting point or people can just walk to the trailhead," Mendenhall said. "We're really excited to have a 5K," Nixon said. "Solid Rock is growing and we need the support. “Hopefully, people will come out." Solid Rock was founded in 1997 moved to its E. State St. location in 2004. In its early years, the center provided after-school activities for high schoolers. It has evolved into a ministry for children in kindergarten through ninth grade. "But we hope to bring the high school programs back," Nixon said. It provides after-school activities and numerous summer programs including a Girls Circle, cooking classes, and an English as a Second Language class for adults. "That will start June 28 with a volunteer instructor," Nixon said. The center works with about 70 students a week. All of its programs are free. Solid Rock gets most of its support from area churches, businesses, and individual donors. "We wouldn't be able to do it without our faithful supporters," Nixon said.

​ Wesley Church is not taking over Colerain Baptist Church. Nor are the two congregations merging. Rather, members of both churches are calling their new relationship a partnership.

The relationship became official earlier this month when Wesley's members voted to accept the partnership. Colerain Baptist's members had approved the partnership in May. Both churches are in Colerain Township. "We have become Colerain Church, a member of the Wesley Neighborhood," said Dr. Lewis Shoemaker, chairman of Colerain Baptist's board of advisors. Members of Colerain had been looking for a way to boost their dwindling attendance and even assuring the congregation's survival. "We had low attendance in the fall and we were worried about financial problems. It was looking likely we weren't going to last a year if we didn't do something," Dr. Shoemaker said. "We had 43 members and an average Sunday attendance in the low 30s." Colerain Baptist is debt free, he added. The opportunity arose as Wesley was considering ways it could reach out to smaller congregations. "We have a mission for churches that can be revitalized," said R. Blake Deibler, Wesley's senior pastor. "There are wonderful churches around with wonderful people but they're struggling. But we had to decide how to do this without appearing to be arrogant. We weren't thinking about Colerain Baptist, but all the pieces fit together." The partnership became official when Wesley's members voted overwhelmingly on Sunday, June 3, to approve the relationship. Colerain's members had voted to approve the relationship last month. Even before the votes were taken, Wesley began providing the Sunday services' pastor and music for Colerain. By September, Colerain Church will have its own permanent pastor. The fit is a good one, Dr. Shoemaker said. "We talked about how we match up so well," he said. "We laid out our constitution and Wesley's and we could have switched them. That's another sign that this is a good match. … We're a much smaller congregation, but we will have the advantage of the opportunities available to a larger congregation. But we will keep the intimacy of a smaller congregation." Wesley's membership now stands at about 400 with Sunday attendance averaging 600. The partnership follows by less than a year of Wesley's birthing of a La Consequa, a Spanish language congregation. That congregation had been meeting in Wesley's main sanctuary. The congregation moved into the old Wesley sanctuary, where it held its first service on October 1, 2017. "This may be the first of a number of partnerships in the next five years," Deibler said of the partnership with Colerain Church. All of Colerain's assets, including the sanctuary and cemetery, will be transferred to Wesley. A transition team will be working to make the partnership go as seamlessly as possible. "We view this as a way of getting the gospel out to the community," Dr. Shoemaker said. "It will not just be like another Wesley here. We will have our own flavor."

An open house later this week will give community members a chance to tour Quarryville Fire Company's expanded station. "We want to show the community what's been done," said fire company president James Herr. The open house is the first the volunteers have held since they housed their ladder truck in 2003, he said.

"We want everyone to come out and see what we've done with their donations," Herr said. The open house will also be an opportunity to publicly thank municipal officials for their financial support and contractors who donated materials and services for the project. "There was a lot of stuff donated that we would otherwise had to pay for and that would have run the price up a good bit," Herr said. "That doesn't happen other places like it does here." The station's expansion was completed in 2017. "We were going to do this [the open house] last year but we wanted to do it when we can have the doors open and that wouldn't have worked in the colder months," he said. In September, 2015, the volunteers voted to build an addition onto the south side of the State St. station. The decision came after structural engineers determined that the floor of the original portion of the station was not strong enough to hold the two engines housed there. That part of the fire house was built in 1932 and was constructed to hold engines weighing seven to nine tons. The company's two engines, neither large by modern standards, weigh about 17 tons each. Their weight was causing the concrete floor to flex. The new addition is the second the volunteers have had built. The first was constructed in 1974 to house a tank truck and a ladder truck, both too large for the original fire house. The firefighters moved into the expansion last year. It allows the firefighters to keep the heavier equipment on solid floors and made room for lighter equipment like the command vehicle and fire police van to be moved inside. Prior to that, those vehicles were parked outdoors. The open house will be held at the station, 217 E. State St., from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 14. There will be apparatus tours, live demonstrations, rides in the bucket of the company's ladder truck, and a candy drop. A smoke trailer will also be open. The trailer, which has rooms similar to those in a house, can be filled with non-toxic smoke to help adults and children learn how to safely escape a burning building. The open house will be held rain or shine.